(checked 2026-10-10)Black camera-only listing (1,316 ratings); film-bundle listings are separate.
Tom's Guide's best budget pick: the smallest, cutest instant camera, with double exposure and a self-timer. But PCMag found its tiny prints, unpredictable exposure, weak flash and short battery life hard to enjoy, and its film costs more per shot than Instax Mini.
Film cost: Polaroid Go film: about $1.12 a print (Tom's Guide); $20 for 16 shots, or $1.25 a photo (PCMag); from $1.24 (TechRadar). Go prints have a smaller image area than Instax Mini (TechRadar size table). Every shot is printed.
Top complaints
- Pricey film for tiny prints
Tom's Guide says a print costs about $1.12, which it calls relatively expensive. PCMag says film costs $1.25 a photo and the prints are tiny, with poor color and detail.
Source: Tom's Guide, PCMag review - Poor low light and unpredictable exposure
Tom's Guide says low-light performance isn't great and there's no macro mode. PCMag found exposure metering inaccurate, the flash weak, and the plastic lens struggling against backlight.
Source: Tom's Guide, PCMag review - Short battery life and dud units
Polaroid promises 120 shots per charge, but PCMag got a low-battery warning after 32 pictures. Amazon's review summary says photo quality and performance are mixed, with some owners reporting it doesn't work at all.
What owners love
- Tiny and cute
Tom's Guide says you can slip it into a pocket and calls it the cutest camera it has shot with. Amazon owners praise the compact size and call it a favorite gift.
- Simple to use
Tom's Guide says anyone can use its three buttons. PCMag praises the easy one-button operation, and Amazon owners find it easy to use.
- Double exposure, self-timer and selfie mirror
Tom's Guide says the new double-exposure mode, selfie mirror and self-timer are fun to use. PCMag also lists double-exposure support.
Source: Tom's Guide, PCMag review
- You shoot indoors or at night
- You want the cheapest film per shot
- You want larger prints
- A pocketable camera for travel
- Polaroid-style square prints on a budget
- Simple three-button operation
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Tom's Guide: Best budget instant camera (updated 2026-09-25). The cons are weak low-light performance and a smartphone app that's only for scanning.
- PCMag: Not recommended: underwhelming picture quality and high film costs make it 'difficult to enjoy'. PCMag suggests the cheaper Instax Mini 12 instead.
- TechRadar: TechRadar now lists the newer Go Generation 3 as its best simple camera and says Go film costs more than Instax Mini.